Michael Cantu grinds through minors with motivation from father, daughter

Michael Cantu II is described by his El Paso Chihuahuas teammates as a bull in a china shop.

A big-bodied catcher who moves faster than you’d expect, Cantu was known as a defensive wizard at Texas, making the ESPN "SportsCenter" Top 10 after picking off an Oklahoma base runner trying to steal second from his knees back in 2015. His greatest asset has always been his defense, as he hit only .194 in 98 at-bats for the Chihuahuas, the San Diego Padres’ Triple-A affiliate.

However, neither his physique nor his aggressive defense behind the plate sparked his minor league nickname.

“‘The Bull’ came from (Chihuahuas manager) Rod Barajas. It was my first spring training, and he didn’t know what my name was!” Cantu said.

Barajas began calling Cantu “Bull,” and the former Longhorn took a liking to it. “Bull” has stuck for six years, replacing his Texas nickname “Gronk” (he’s a big Tom Brady fan.)

More: Tanner Witt's Tommy John surgery to keep Texas pitcher on ice for now

While Cantu has certainly changed since college — his once neatly trimmed hair has grown out into a flowy mane and he has a daughter, Juli, whom he intends on taking to Texas baseball games — UT coach David Pierce says his work ethic has never changed.

“(He’s) a guy that just keeps grinding and stuck with it,” Pierce said. “Who knows? He may play in the big leagues for a long time.”

The minor league grind is one of the factors that have kept Cantu away from UFCU Disch-Falk Field since his final game there in 2017, other than to attend legendary UT coach Cliff Gustafson’s memorial service there last month. But he knew what he was getting himself into when he wasn’t drafted out of college and instead signed with the Padres as a minor leaguer.

Bohls: Former Texas baseball coach Cliff Gustafson was beloved ... by all

Cantu’s father played in the minors for seven years and tried his best to mentally prepare his son for a life of uncertainty, though Cantu doesn’t think that anyone — including his father — can fully explain what it's like to be a minor leaguer trying to make it big. However, Cantu Sr. practiced and preached hard work and passion every day, and that's invaluable to Cantu.

“(You) show up every day, no matter if you go 0-for-4 or 4-for-4,” Cantu said. “I think what he instilled in me the most is how to play the game.”

Finding motivation in all the right places

While there are hard days, there also are hard weeks. Living in a different time zone from that of his daughter in Austin and others in his immediate family in Corpus Christi, he gets lonely and frustrated, even though his parents and siblings are a great support system from afar. Cantu has been on the cusp of “making it” since he was moved up to Triple-A in 2019 and again in 2021, and he has kept on the grind in hopes of his contract being selected by the Padres.

While his love for the game has kept him in the Padres' organization for six years, his daughter is the one who keeps him going.

“Having my daughter has helped me be a better baseball player,” Cantu said. “No matter what has happened during that game, you see her after the game, and she loves me no matter what.”

Juli’s love for her dad has helped Cantu grow his love for the game, and that love radiated to others. When he trekked across the Disch’s turf to batting practice at the annual UT alumni game Saturday, he greeted his old teammates with a toothy grin and massive bear hugs. His smile lit up the visitor's dugout because he knew his daughter was in the left field stands and that he was back playing baseball for his college program.

“I’ve enjoyed playing baseball a lot more since having my daughter,” Cantu said. “It makes (baseball) so much more worth it and so much more fun.”

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Former Texas catcher Michael Cantu has life, career trending upward